Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-04-01
Interesting Address by H. c. Hallowell

A correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun
writing from Belair, Nd, under date O
March 26th, gives the following:
Mr.. Henry G. Hallswell, of Montgomery
county, delivered a pleasing address on
"Farm Life" before the Fallston and Welna
Farmers Clubs, of Hartford county, at Falls
ton, last night. He traced remarkable
similarity between the early condition and
advancement in agricultural prosperity of
Montgomery and Hartford counties. Ac-
cording to the last census the farms of Har-
ford county were valued at $10,O00,000, and
those Of Montgomery county at $7,500O00
The value of fertilizers bought in Hartford
county in one year was $274,000, and in
Montgomery 1886 900. The value of farm
products ia Hartford the same year was ST.
$4,000, and in Montgomery $1,788 ,000.-
The number of improved acres in Hartford
was 10000, Montgomery 10000. Dairy
products-Harford, milk, 521 900 gallons !;
Montgomery, 100000. Butter-Harford, 62S,.
600 lbs; Montgomery, $4,000 lbs. Pota-
toes-Harferd, 81, 900 bushels; Montgomery,
$4,000. Wheat-Harford, 5000 bushels;
Montgomery, $4,000.
he ad vocated the Importance Of farmers
clubs and other organizations and the value
OF farmers keeping detailed accounts of their
business. The hard times of which farmers
complain, he thought, could be ameliorated
by paying attention TO the little things on
the farm. An immense number of egg, for
instance, are imported into this country ev-
cry year from Holland and England, which
ought to be produced here
Then, again, there is great waste Of fer
tllizing material from barnyards BY means
of cisterns this could be collected, pumped
out and spread over grass fields, wonder
fully increasing their productiveness. The
farm implements, toe, should be cleaned,
OILED and put away as soon as done with.
He spoke Of the debt which farmers Of
this generation owe TO men like Ruifin, of
Virginia, John g. Skinner and The venera-
BILE Samuel Sands, Of Mar@lsaa, ana said
that every farmer should carefully observe
and note every new fact in his business,
communicate it to his brother farmers and
through the county and agricultural press.
He described the method of conducting
farmers conventions and the Horticultural
Society In Montgomery county. Entire
families are members of the latter. Meetings
are held at the houses of members in sue
cessien, each member carrying some choice
vegetable, flower or fruit, and these are left
with the hostess Much valuable informa-
ton is gathered at these meetings.
Farmers" he said, "are not sufficiently
observant and thoughtful. Did you ever
measure the length o horses headp 7" he
asked. when boy did, and going TO
my mothers pantry was surprised 10 find
the horses head was as long as flour bar
REL"
1t is custom in Montgomery county and
elsewhere TO beat tin pan when a swarm
of bees escapes, in the belief that it will con-
fuse them and cause them to alight. This
custom in England is called hanging"
from word meaning ito hold" 1t was
done whenever swarm escaped, and was
merely notice by the owner that the swarm
was his property.
He also alluded to the agricultural pros
perlty OF Virginia. Thrift, energy and bus
mess methods have been introduced every.
where in that State, and, said Mr.. Halow
ell, "if we don't look out she will soon cut
strip us in the race of agricultural progress.
In the South cotton was king, and great was
the lamentatien when the king was de.
throned. But the fact is that 80 per cent.
more cott1n is raised in the South than be-
lore the war, and whereas only 10 per cent.
OF the white labor was employed in raising
cotton, now 30 per cent finds employment
in producing il.
Farm surroundings should be made
tasteful and attractive by removing insight.
ly objects, planting a few flowers, &c. Neat
ness and order have higher and better use
than mere beauty. They exercise an i'm
portant part in sanitation"
The water supply on farms, continued
Mr.. Hallowell, is also important. He men.
TONED instances where several deaths had
occurred from the pollution of the water
in well from cesspool eighty yards dis
tant. ut is a mistake TO suppose that water
secomes purified Ivy freezing and therefore
the ice ponds should be SO arranged that
the water can be entirely drawn from them
in the summer In the fall they could be
Hooded with pure water, and wholesome ice
will be the result" Mr.. Hallowell spoke OF
the hardships endured by the farmers wife
The husband has opportunities of minglng
with his fellows, while the wife, too often
is arudging at home. The farmer should
be more careful to see that his better hall
has some escape from labor by providing
her with help at home. ut is sad com
mentary on the life of farmer that large
percentage of the inmates of our insane
asylums are farmers wives and daughters